Valve control for a musical instrument



v Sept. 8, 1959 v. MANCINI VALVE CONTROL FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov.

Sept. 8, 1959 v. MANCINI VALVE CONTROL FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16, 1954 Sept 8, 1959 v. MANclNx 2,902,896

VALVE CONTROL FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Fled NOV. 16, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Nov. 16, 1954 SePt- 8, 1959 v. MANCINI 2,902,896

VALVE CONTROL. FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States v invention relates to accordions, and more particularly yto key arrangements and controls for valve flaps as employed in accordions and the like. In known key arrangements for accordions and like instruments, keys are provided which are supported at least in part by cover plates. These keys are given a motion in-their axial direction and slide through the associated cover plates by means of which they are guided. In such structures, a binding of the keys in the cover plates is not unusual since there is substantial friction between thecover plates and the keys. Not only is there a binding which causes the delayed movement of the keys back to their normal position, but, furthermore, a noisy movement of the keys results.

Moreover, Vunits of the above noted conventional type are generally more complicated than is believed neces sary, with the result that the mechanisms provided are heavy and bulky.

-It is an object of the invention to provide an improved .arrangement whereby the axial movement of accordion -lreys and the 'like is avoided.

- It -is another object of the invention to provide an improved key arrangement which is extremely simple and, therefore, easily` fabricated and employed.

.Itis a further" object of the invention to provide an improved key arrangement wherein the keys move freely and independently of the associated cover plate.

Briefly, Ein accordance with the invention, the valve flaps land keys of an accordion are both supported by a valve plate or Vits equivalent. The keys are so arranged as to be supported on levers whereby their movement is 4an arcuate movement. The lever supported keys are so arranged as to move independently of the associated cover plate which, thus, constitutes simply a decorative device and a device to shield the inner construction of the accordion without in any manner serving as a guide for the keys.

4In accordance with a feature of the invention, particular coupling devices are employed to connect the keys to' the 'valve lilaps, these particular coupling devices including means for the interaction of the flaps and improved means for imparting movement to the flaps.

Other objects and features of the invention will be "found in the following description, as illustrated in the 'Fig. l taken along line `II-ll;

Fig. 3 is a detailed'perspective View, on enlarged scale, vwith someparts broken away, of the mechanical control `unit of the invention and two valves, so as to show the `working ofuthe whole system;

Fig. 4 is aY partial perspective view of one type of lever employed in the system;

atent rice Fig. 4b is a partial perspective view of a second form of lever;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view according to line VI-Vl of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective View, on enlarged scale, of the mechanical control unit and two valves, in the embodiment according to Figs. 5 and 6, to show the working of the whole system, and

Fig. 8 represents a detail of an operating lever for tierods of the valves, in the second embodiment.

Referring to the drawings and, particularly, to Figs. l to 4, there is shown a mechanical unit operating control rods for the accordion valves and entirely assembled on the valve plate ll. This unit is supported by a frame 2, within which laminae are arranged, which laminae are formed from at, substantially rectangular plates provided on one of their larger sides with a plurality of projections 16 (Fig. 3) adapted to be engaged by plates 11, and on the other side with projections 17 having different lengths. The frame consists of two cheeks 2 and 2' connected to each other by means of tie-rods or pins 3 and which support the axles on which the rotary motions of the keys and counter-levers are performed. The axles are identified in Fig. 3 by the reference numerals 4 and 5 respectively. As shown in Fig. 3, in which for purposes of clarity two laminae are represented (a lamina 7 for the group of harmonies and a lamina S for the group of basses), each lever '9 or l0, for the group of harmonies and the group of basses, respectively, is formed with a plate or terminal portion 11 or 12 (both supported 'by axle 4). Each lever 9 or 1) controls the rotation of the' respective plate and constitutes a member, on which the push buttons or keys 13 and 14 are fixedly arranged. Keys 13 and 14 extend through a cover plate 14 with lever 9 and 1li extending substantially parallel to the cover plate in the sense that they extend along and beneath the same. The two laminae groups for the harmonies and basses are separated by a central member l5 to stiften the whole frame.

It is apparent that the angular displacement of one of the keys, for instance key 13 shown in Fig. 3, causes the rotation of the associated plate around axle d. Plate 11 is engaged with one of the projections 16 carried 'by lamina 7, so that displacement of push button 13 causes the displacement of lamina 7 as indicated by the arrow. The edge of lamina 7, opposite that which is provided with the projections i6, carries a plurality of projections 17, which are irregularly spaced, inasmuch as the shifting of one of the laminae has to correspond to the rotary motion of only one control or counter-lever arranged in a predetermined manner. ln the illustration of Fig. 3 there is presumed, by way of example, that it is the control or counter-lever 1S whose movement has to correspond to the angular displacement of piston 13. Thus, the projection 17 corresponding to said counterllever 13 is such that its rear edge (in the shifting direction as indicated by the arrow), when lamina 7 is moved, engages the side of bell crank lever 1S which, by rotating clockwise (when viewing Fig. 3) around axle 5 causes a rod 19 connected to one of the valves to move in the direction necessary to open the same. Since the other projections 17', i7 are spaced apart to a greater extent, on shifting of lamina 7, they do not enter into engagement with counter-levers i8, and these projections do not reach such a position as to be able to act on said countcrflevers.

The movements of laminae 7 are also guided by the slots 20 which accommodate pins 3 reinforcing the `whole system and which connect the side cheeks 2, 2' with the central plate 15.

The working so far `disclosed concerns one of the keys and one of the harmony laminae. It is known that the operation of a key of this kind must not produce other sounds besides the sounds of the desired harmony, and that it may operate more than one lamina. In contrast thereto, the operation of each of the bass keys, of which a typical key denoted by 10 has been shown, has to produce also harmony.

Although the arrangement of the respective laminae 8 and counter-levers 21 substantially corresponds to the previously disclosed arrangement, this result will be achieved by providing each counter-lever 21, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, with a lug 22 adapted to act upon the lug 23 of each corresponding lever 18. It will be clear that at the moment at which the counter-lever 21 rotates owing to the displacement of lamina 8 due to the angular displacement of lever 10 which determines the rotation of plate 12, it will engage by its lug 22 the lug 23 of corresponding lever 18 supported on the same axle 5, so as to produce the rotary motion thereof as ir key 9 had been operated. The inverse case does not occur, since counterlever 18 `is not provided with any member adapted to engage counter-lever 21.

As will be seen from the details of Figs. 3 and 4, the control rods 19 of valves 24 enter into action owing to axial thrust exerted in cups 19', whereby the operation and arrangement of the respective control means will be facilitated. In effect, each inner end of rod 19 is engaged with an angular plate 25 which controls the lift of the corresponding valve 24, and this lift takes place owing to the displacement of the corresponding rod 19 in the direction indicated by the arrow of Fig. 3. Through the closure of the valve, operated by a spring (not shown), rod 19 and, consequently, counter-lever 18 and, through the several mechanical engagements already disclosed, the corresponding keys are taken back to the starting position. Obviously, the engagement between the lug 23 of each counter-lever 18 and the corresponding arm of each counter-lever 21 merely requires thrust. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, this connection is established by providing in the arm of the counter-lever a cup-shaped seat 26, into which enters one of the ends of rod 19, whereas the opposite end of rod 19 terminates with a tapered portion 27 limited by a bead 28 which serves as an abutment on rod 19 for the angular plate 25.

By changing the position of counter-levers 18 and 21, rods 19 may act as tie-rods (as illustrated in Fig. 4b). In this case, rods 19 will be suitably bent and will enter into engagement with convenient seats 19 provided in counter-levers 18 or 21 and in the angular plates 25'.

A further embodiment is illustrated in Figs. to 8 which substantially correspond to Figs. l to 4. The control device is substantially the same, as also in this case it is formed from two series of parallel laminae, which are operated by lowering the keys, each of which, as shown in Fig. 7 through the corresponding lever 30 causes the displacementof a plate 31 that acts upon projection 32 of the corresponding lamina 33. In this case, the laminae are provided with projections 34 substantially corresponding to the projections 17 disclosed for the previous embodiment and which have similar features as far as concerns their action at determined intervals.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the valves 24 are opened owing to thrust or pull of rods 19 on the angular members 25. This arrangement may be provided also if, with a view of taking advantage of the reduction of the space occupied by the mechanical devices according to the present improvement, most of bottom 37 is located at a higher level, as shown in Fig. 6, thus leaving laterally of the case merely a lowered part 35, on which frame 36 containing laminae 33 and 38 is arranged. In the form illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the laminae 33 and 38 (of which in Fig. 7 only two typical members are shown) control counter-levers 40, which, instead of being shaped as angular members as in the previous form of embodiment, are formed as simple small plates which, however, are rmly connected to the axle 41 on which each of them is mounted. Thus, the rotary motion of counter-lever 40, due to shifting a laminae 33, causes axle 41 to rotate, to which axle, on the outside of the cheeks of the frame, a short crank 42 is connected, on whose end there is applied rod 43 which operates the bell crank levers 49 of valves 39 through pull or thrust, according to the position of crank 42.

It is pointed out that, in this case, each axle 41 may carry only one counter-lever 40, instead of two counterlevers freely supported thereon, as in the previous ernbodiment.

Also in this case the laminae are divided into the two groups of basses and harmonies and the operation of a base has to cause the operation of the corresponding harmony. Thus, between the valves corresponding to the basses and those corresponding to the harmonies a rod 44 is arranged, acting through thrust or pull, in order to operate a harmony valve when the valve corresponding to the basses is operated. As already stated, the advantage from a harmonic point of view is achieved by arranging the bottom plane of the basses, as shown, at a higher level, whereby the sound characteristics of the instrument are improved.

The present invention has been illustrated and disclosed in connection with a few preferred forms, but it is to be understood that in practice modifications of a constructional nature may be introduced, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention itself.

What I cliam is:

1. In an accordion, a valve plate having at least one valve flap pivotally mounted thereon, a lever intermediately pivoted on said valve plate, said lever including spaced terminal portions, one terminal portion of said lever being connected to said valve ap and the other terminal portion of said lever extending substantially parallel to said valve plate, a cover plate having an opening therethrough immediately overlying said other terminal portion of said lever, and a key rigidly connected to said other terminal portion of said lever and extending through said opening.

2. In an accordion as claimed in claim 1, an axle supported on the valve plate, said lever being intermediately pivoted on the axle.

3. In an accordion as claimed in claim 2, a further lever pivoted intermediately on the axle, a further key rigidly on the further lever and extending through the cover plate, laminae slidably supported on the valve plate and operatively associated with the levers to be displaced by the latter, a further axle supported on the valve plate, control levers on the further axle for engagement by the respective laminae, a further valve flap on the valve plate, the valve aps being operatively associated with the control levers for being controlled thereby, and means on one of the control levers for engaging and controlling the other control lever whereby movment of one key controls both valve flaps.

4. In an accordion as claimed in claim 3, rods engaging the valve aps for controlling the same, the control levers dening cups for freely accommodating the ends of the rods.

5. In an accordion as claimed in claim 3, rods connecting the control levers and valve flaps.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,297,032 Stahl Sept. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 366,425 Italy Dec. 27, 1938 420,75() Italy May 6, 1947 890,749 Germany Sept. 21, 1953 

